fissionit

About fissionit

What is Cryptocurrency and Mining?

Cryptocurrency is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of currency.

Cryptocurrencies are created (and secured) through cryptographic algorithms that are maintained and confirmed in a process called mining, where a network of computers or specialized hardware process and validate the transactions.

Mining Malware?

As a result of the growing value and popularity of cyrptocurrencies, mining malware has become a growing issue with cybercriminals infecting thousands of machines and using them to mine currency without the user knowing.

Cryptocurrency-mining malware steal the resources of infected machines, significantly affecting their performance and increasing their wear and tear. An infection also involves other costs, like increased power consumption.

What can I do to avoid it?

It is important to have an up-to-date Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware solution for all computers and devices as a bare minimum. Other technologies such as Active Firewalls are also a great defence against unwanted attacks and unauthorised access.

Microsoft have recently launched Microsoft 365; a complete, intelligent solution, including Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility & Security, that empowers everyone to be creative and work together, securely.

Microsoft 365 Business is built to deliver the productivity tools and security services businesses need in a single, simple-to-manage product. It safeguards company information, extending security across users, apps, and devices. It helps ensure PCs are up to date and secure, helping prevent security vulnerabilities that cyber-thieves often exploit. It also provides protection for company information across devices, with the ability to remove company data from lost or stolen devices.

We are happy to announce Fission is now a Microsoft Gold Partner! Fission have moved over 6500 users to the cloud in recent years, and made a decision to enhance our relationship with Microsoft by attaining Gold Partner status To earn a Microsoft Gold Competency, organizations must complete a rigorous set of tests to prove their level of technology expertise, have the right number of Microsoft Certified Professionals, submit customer references and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction

The Microsoft Partner Network helps partners strengthen their capabilities to showcase leadership in the marketplace on the latest technology, to better serve customers.

Fission is now a Microsoft Gold Partner fissionit 2018-01-03T15:33:08+00:00

Microsoft recently announced the next perpetual release of Office – Office 2019. This release, which is scheduled for mid-late 2018, will include perpetual versions of the Office apps (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and servers (including Exchange, SharePoint, and Skype for Business).

Office 2019 will add new user and IT capabilities for clients that aren’t yet ready for fully cloud-based solutions. New features will include better data analysis in Excel, inking features in for drawing and design, additional animations for PowerPoint and improved IT manageability, usability, voice, and security.

Office 2019 will be a valuable upgrade for customers who feel they need to keep some or all apps and servers on-premises.

Vodafone New Zealand has announced that it will be discontinuing its email services on the 30th November. This decision comes after months of problems with high levels of spam and delayed mail.

Vodafone NZ Consumer Director Matt Williams said “Since we launched our email service in the 1990’s, email and technology have grown up a lot and our customers have told us their email service is no longer delivering the sort of experience our customers need today. That’s simply not good enough for us here at Vodafone. We’ve made the decision to close the service down”

A number of our clients have been surprised when a formal request for a software audit comes along.

This is routine behaviour from the big Software vendors, and Microsoft in particular have been very active in New Zealand working their way through companies to ensure software licensing is compliant.

Most companies now have a mix of Cloud licensing, monthly/annual licensing, and older legacy licensing, so there can be some work involved in getting an accurate handle on what you own, then the fun of clarifying the exact licensing requirements for your IT environment are….

Social engineering attacks are becoming more and more common against enterprises and SMBs, as well as being increasingly sophisticated. With hackers using ever-more clever methods to trick employees and individuals into handing over valuable company data, companies must use due diligence in an effort to stay two steps ahead of cyber criminals.

These attacks typically involve some form of psychological manipulation, tricking unsuspecting users or employees into handing over confidential or sensitive data such as passwords, email address or banking/credit card information. Commonly, social engineering involves email or other communication that invokes urgency, fear or similar emotions in the receipient, leading the victim to promptly reveal sensitive data, open a malicious file or click a malicious link. Due to the human element, preventing these attacks can be a challenge for businesses.